But what would it matter if they didn't have the power to
hurt us? our feelings, our life-chances, our bodies?
I hope I can learn to value voices I haven't been ear-trained
to listen to. I can get away with flaunting a lot of conventions;
others may be justifiably more cautious. Still, the wealth of
our community here is in the interplay of many voices, and
I hope more people who've felt reluctant to speak will do so.
Speaking and being heard is about the only way I know to
develop a voice of one's own. I was told here once before that
the way I write (and some others here do) can be intimidating
for those who feel their voices won't fit in with the patterns
most often heard here. I can only repeat what I think I said
then: I don't listen to this list to hear other voices like
my own, I listen to hear something 'different' ... and I try
to learn how to value what I'm hearing. It is not easy. My
first reaction to real difference is often negative ... I've
come to see that as a sign I should learn to listen differently.
But I have to hear those different voices again and again to
begin to do so. JAY.
JAY LEMKE.
City University of New York.
BITNET: JLLBC who-is-at CUNYVM
INTERNET: JLLBC who-is-at CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU